Southern California -- this just in

Grief counselors on hand at South East High after stabbing

Grief counselors will be on the South East High School campus in South Gate on Monday for the first day of classes after a fatal stabbing of a student last week during a lunch break.

Cindi Santana, a 17-year-old senior at South East, died Friday after an altercation with her ex-boyfriend, Abraham Lopez, 18, authorities say.

Lopez, a senior, allegedly attacked Santana and then stabbed her, another student, and a dean at the school.

Lopez was being held without bail at the Men's Central Jail downtown.

Over the weekend, students, family, teachers and others gathered at the school, where a memorial was set up with candles, flowers and two heart-shaped balloons.

Students and parents met with counselors in the library.

Parents and students said they were worried about a lack of security at the school.

"You think your kids are safe at school, but they're not," said one parent, who declined to give her name. "To me they should have more security at school. They should search bags more often. I would like to see metal detectors."

Photo: Students Norma Ochoa, 16, left, Diana Ramos, 17, and Lizeth Martinez, 17, grieve Friday after the fatal on-campus stabbing at South East High School in South Gate. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times